Du ser kul ut.

you

Breakdown of Du ser kul ut.

• kul: cool
• se ut: to look

Questions & Answers about Du ser kul ut.

What does Du ser kul ut mean in English?

It translates to "You look cool." The sentence is a compliment that tells someone they appear cool or stylish.

Why is the particle ut placed at the end of the sentence?

In Norwegian, the verb å se (to see) forms a specific phrasal construction with ut to mean "to look" or "to appear." Similar to how English sometimes employs particles (like in "look out"), ut is an essential part of the phrase å se ut, even though its literal meaning is "out."

What are the grammatical roles of each word in the sentence?

• Du is the subject pronoun, meaning "you."
• ser is the present tense form of å se, which in this context means "look."
• kul is an adjective that translates to "cool" and is used here in an informal way.
• ut acts as a particle that completes the verb phrase å se ut, solidifying the meaning as "to look (in a certain way)."

Why isn’t the adjective kul inflected or modified in this predicative position?

In Norwegian, when adjectives are used after a linking verb (in a predicative position), they generally remain in their basic form without additional inflection. That’s why kul stays unchanged in Du ser kul ut.

Is kul considered formal or informal language in Norwegian?

Kul is more on the informal side, functioning much like the English slang "cool." It is commonly used in casual conversation and among younger speakers, so it might not be the best choice in very formal settings.